It is always easier said than done and I love the fact that you stated that this can be possible depending on ones location  and one thing you should know is that the higher your earnings,  the bigger your responsibilities become and what makes a man is how much of his responsibilities he can carter for.

While reading  the op, I noticed you didn't even give any allocation to unbudgetted expenses which are most times inevitable and you should know that life dont always go as we planned and what I simply do is accept life the way it comes without having to push  so hard to earn things.